Parents

Dear Grade One Families,

We have had a fantastic start to Term 2 in Grade One. Students have settled back into our routines and expectations with ease and we are looking forward to a wonderful term full of fun and learning.

Reading
This week in reading, students have been exploring new vocabulary from Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley. They have also been identifying the beginning, middle, and end of the story, and making inferences using clues from the text.

Phonics
In phonics, our focus has been on the /ph/ and /wh/ sounds. Students practised breaking words into phonemes using their “phoneme fist” and continued building their bank of high-frequency words to support their reading and writing.

Writing
This week, students have been generating a range of “seeds” to help spark ideas for their writing. These included ideas about people, places, and problems.

Numeracy
In numeracy, we have been exploring number patterns. Students practised skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, using materials to support their understanding and count efficiently.

Inquiry
This week, students continued their Inquiry learning about fairness. We explored a range of emotions, how they can change, and strategies we can use to manage them effectively. Students also identified their responsibilities at both school and home.

Reminders
Homework and take-home readers should be returned each Friday.

Swimming
Swimming lessons begin next week on Monday, 27th April. Please check whether your child’s class swims on Monday or Wednesday.
Students should come to school wearing their swimwear, with clean, dry clothes in their bag to change into afterward. Please ensure all items are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Labelling Items
Please ensure all hats, drink bottles, lunch boxes, and clothing are clearly labelled so items can be easily returned if misplaced.

Hats
Students are still required to wear their school hats. If your child has misplaced theirs, replacements can be purchased from the office for $10.

Take-Home Readers
Students will continue bringing home readers and reading trackers. Please return both each Friday so books can be changed.

Class Pet
In the next few weeks each class will be starting to send out a class pet. If your child receives the class pet please know it will be sent home on Wednesday, and students need to ensure to bring it back to school on Monday.

Have a fantastic week,

The Grade 1 Team
Josh, Jamila, Bryoni, Romy, Emily, Mia, Jasmine, and Jade

Dear Grade Two Families,

This week in Grade Two, our learning has been full of curiosity, discussion, and hands-on exploration across all areas of the curriculum.

In Reading, we have been studying Bowerbird Blues and building our understanding of narrative texts. Students have been identifying the beginning, problem, and ending of a story, noticing language patterns and sentence structures used by authors, and using inference to understand what the bowerbird might be thinking or feeling. We have also been tracking how the problem builds and is resolved throughout the text, while developing fluency through reading with expression, appropriate pauses, and phrasing.

In Writing, we have begun a five-week unit on persuasive texts, focusing on reviews. Students have been generating ideas using “seeds” such as favourite things and personal opinions and beginning to form reasons to support their thinking.

In Phonics, we have been focusing on the “ear” sound, including the different spellings ear, eer, and ere. Students are learning to identify and apply these patterns in both their reading and writing.

In Numeracy, we are exploring measurement attributes. Students are measuring and comparing length, mass, and capacity using informal units, and developing their understanding through practical learning experiences.

In our Unit of Inquiry, we have begun our learning about Sharing the Planet. Students are exploring how we can take care of Earth, what it means to reduce, reuse and recycle, identifying materials that can be reused or recycled, and investigating examples of how land, water, and air are cared for in different places.

A few important reminders: 

• Swimming lessons start next week. 
• Homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Friday.

The Grade Two Team

Liam (H17), Katie (H18), Shelby (H19), Krichelle/Beth (H22), Eleanor (H23), Lan (H24), Agnes/Mel (H25)

Dear Grade Three Families,

Thank you to all families that attended our KCPS Community Picnic. We were delighted to see students engaging with outdoor sports, craft events and of course the yummy food and snacks there were to offer.

In Reading, students have continued to explore the text Big Red Kangaroo as part of our recent text study. This week students focused on the use of figurative language within the text which includes the use of metaphors. We discussed what metaphors are, identified parts of the text that used metaphors and what that metaphors literal meaning is.

In Writing, students are learning about the text type of recounts. This week they have been able to create a seed for a recount from reflecting on their past experiences, work on drafting their ideas using a graphic organiser and begin to write their recounts using the structure of orientation, body paragraphs and conclusion.

In Numeracy, we have reviewed our knowledge of additive thinking and further developing efficient strategies by engaging in learning tasks with a focus on bridging and flexible counting. We have also commenced our new unit on Chance and students are exploring the vocabulary of certain, likely, equal chance, unlikely and impossible when discussing events.

For our Unit of Inquiry, students will be diving into the Tuning In stage as we unpack our new Central Idea ‘The power of voice creates change’ and Lines of Inquiry:

• Issues that are important in our community.
• How people express opinions in different ways.
• Ways we can take safe and thoughtful action.

Key Dates and Reminders:

• Year 3-6 Athletics Day – Wednesday 1 April
• Last Day of Term 1 – Thursday 2 April

Warm regards,
The Grade Three Team
Kasey (H27), Krystal (H28), Monique (H29), Ash & Clayton (H30), Ritu (H31), Preet (H32), Ritika (H33)

Dear Grade Five Families, 

Welcome back to what we know will be another wonderful term of learning in Grade 5! We hope you all had a restful break and are energised and ready for Term 2.

Students have made a positive start to Term 2, settling quickly back into classroom routines and expectations. It has been great to see them returning with focus and enthusiasm, ready to engage in their learning. They are already demonstrating strong work habits, collaborating well with peers, and approaching new tasks with confidence. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum as the term progresses.

A few reminders:

• Camp information session Wednesday 29th April at 4:00pm
• Mother’s Day Stall Tuesday 5th of May and Wednesday 6th of May 
• VHAP Zoo Excursion Thursday 30th of May 
• Captain Assembly Tuesday 28th April at 2:30pm in the gym
• Hats need to be worn outside until the 1st of May
• Homework will be going home each Friday and is due the following Friday. It will start Friday of week 1

Thank you for your ongoing support.

The Grade Five Team,

Elise and Kafa (H41), Melanie (H42), Stacey (H43), Anne (H44), Ashleigh and Stephanie (H45), Jayde (H46) and Ana (H47)

Dear Families,

Our Grade 6 students have had a great start to the first week back of Term 2. We are continuing with our high expectations, and established routines are supporting students to stay focused, engaged, and be their very best selves.

In Reading, students have begun unpacking the text One Small Island. Students are exploring technical vocabulary used in non-fiction texts, analysing cause and effect as well as how authors build ideas within non-fiction texts.

In Numeracy, students are building on their understanding of multiplicative thinking, exploring prime numbers, factors, and multiples, and making connections between these concepts to strengthen their mathematical understanding. Students have been successful in multiplying and dividing by powers of 10.

In Writing, we have started to look at the text type of writing to explain. Here students have created seeds for ideas to explain how and why concepts of topics that they are interested in. The have begun researching for technical vocabulary and sequences so they have a strong base before they begin drafting.

A few reminders and important information for the week ahead:

• Camp is closing approaching- this year we will be taking panadol, nurofen, zyrtec and clarytyne to camp. If your child takes any other medication this needs to be provided to the school prior to camp or the morning that we depart with a filled out medication authority form. 
• High School Transition forms have been handed out to students this week. They need to be returned to school no later than the 8th of May
• Interschool Sports begins next week for our winter teams. Our first game is a home game. Please be on the lookout for events for away games for bus payment and consent

If you have any questions, please feel free to pop in and see us anytime.

Have a great weekend!

From the Grade 6 Team

Sarah, Nikita, Deanna, Shana, Hayden, Sam, Bernadette, Vanessa and Escher